Facebook Malaysia, in partnership with Teach For Malaysia (TFM) has launched We Think Digital, a nationwide digital literacy programme that aims to develop skills that enable Malaysians to create a positive and safe culture online.
The programme which is endorsed by the Ministry of Education Malaysia aims to help people think critically and share thoughtfully online. Facebook and its partners from government, civil society groups, and communities aim to conduct training sessions for youths, students, and teachers through this program in Malaysia.
Based on the pilot programme that virtually trained 950 students nationwide, Facebook Malaysia and TFM aims to train 2,500 students with this program across the country by April next year.
“Malaysia has one of the fastest-growing internet populations and with the growing number of new internet users, developing skills around digital literacy and digital citizenship is vital to creating a positive and safe culture on the internet.
Ultimately, nothing is more important to us than making sure that we create a safe, informed, inclusive and respectful community on Facebook,” said Nicole Tan, Country Director of Facebook Malaysia.
“Facebook has been investing in developing safety resources and tools for users of all ages to think critically and share thoughtfully online. We are committed to partner with industry stakeholders, advocates, and communities to nurture responsible digital citizens by creating awareness and taking the initiatives to support positive communities online and offline,” Nicole added.
According to a survey conducted by YouGov as commissioned by Facebook, Malaysians are generally knowledgeable in password security measurement but only 42 percent of people surveyed in Malaysia are aware of Two Factor Authentication or 2FA – which is an extra layer of protection used to ensure the security of online accounts beyond just a username and password.
CEO of Teach For Malaysia, Chan Soon Seng mentioned that “most active internet users in Malaysia are young people. However, many lack the critical thinking skills necessary to participate safely and responsibly online.
TFM is excited to be partnering with Facebook to launch the We Think Digital programme in Malaysia, providing an opportunity for all students in Malaysia to develop basic digital literacy and citizenship skills to thrive in the digital 21st-century world.”
Apart from Teach For Malaysia, Facebook also collaborates with experts, academics, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Asia Pacific to create various modules such as privacy, safety, security, digital discourse, and knowing your digital footprint as a source of learning in this program.
“I am excited to get my students to join Facebook’s We Think Digital program as social media plays a big part of their daily life. They are the next generation of responsible digital citizens that we should nurture. As such, this is a really good opportunity for my students to learn how to be good and responsible digital citizens; by being thoughtful, mindful, and critical online,” We Think Digital trainer Loh Chee Hoo expressed.
